High frequency electronic pulse generator

ABSTRACT

An electronic generator of very high voltage pulses at a very high frequency constituted by a tube enclosing a cathode fed with a very high voltage, said cathode being constituted by mercury in which a cathode spot is formed or else by gallium which melts at the temperature of operation while the tube is filled with the vapors of the cathode-forming metal. Said cathode, which is associated with an anode or otherwise, produces in an auxiliary conductive component located inside or outside the tube the desired high frequency pulses.

Umted States Patent [151 3,662,283 Usse et a]. 1 May 9, 1972 [54] HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRONIC [56] References Cited PULSE GENERATOR UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventors: Jean E. Usse, Villemonble; Henri Spindler, 2,745,011 5/1956 Bellows, .lr ..33 l/78 Colmar, both of France 2,843,732 7/1958 Johnson et al. .331/94 X 3,178,655 4 1965 R t l. ..331 78 [73] Assignee: Centrale DExploitation et de Commerce, lese a I French (Societe Anonyme), Paris, France Primary E. Lynch 22 Filed; 13 970 Assistant Examiner-H. Huberfeld Attorney-Jacobs & Jacobs [21] Appl. No.: 2,508

[57] ABSTRACT [3 Foreign Application Priority Dam An electronic generator of very high voltage pulses at a very high frequency constituted by a tube enclosing a cathode fed Jan. 24, I969 France ..0l343 with a y g g said cathode being constituted y mercury in which a cathode spot is formed or else by gallium [52] US. Cl. ..33l9341,/Zl;(6)/43,3312/%2d which melts at the temperature of operation while the tube is 51 I t f 1/04 filled with the vapors of the cathode-forming metal. Said 1 d 3252/2 3 cathode, which is associated with an anode or otherwise, [58] o g produces in an auxiliary conductive component located inside or outside the tube the desired high frequency pulses.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Our invention has for its object an electronic generator of voltage pulses the amplitude and recurrent frequency of which are high and well-defined, say at about 20,000 cycles. Said generator includes chiefly a tube containing mercury or the like metal vapor, carrying a cold liquid cathode provided with one auxiliary electric. component other than an anode, which component may be carried inside or outside the tube and in which the output pulses are formed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of examples various embodiments of our invention. In said drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment according to which the tube encloses an'inner filament forming the auxiliary component.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment wherein the tube is enclosed within an outer sleeve forming the auxiliary component.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of FIG. 2 wherein the anode of the tube is cut out, a capacitory action producing the desired pulses.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment according to which the cathode is fed with energy through the inside of an insulating sheath extending axially of the tube between its upper end and the cathode.

FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement incorporating two electronic generators executed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of FIG. 5 intended for the treatment of a liquid and wherein the section of each tube subjected to vacuum or to mere vapor pressure is wholly immersed in the liquid. g

In the different figures, the tube made of glass for instance is designed by the reference number I, the cold cathode which is liquid during operation by 2 and the wire subjecting said cathode to the desired voltage by 3.

In FIG. 1, an anode is drawn at 4 and an inner, preferably heated filament made of tungsten for instance at 5, said filament serving for the output of the high frequency voltage pulses.

In 'FIG. 2, the auxiliarycomponent in which the pulses are generated is constituted by a sleeve 6 which may be cylindrical for instance, said sleeve fitted round the outer surface of the tube 1 feeding the pulses to the desired point.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, except for the fact that the anode 4 is cut out since it has been found that it is not essential, its part being played by the'capacitory action of the sleeve 6.

In FIG. 4, the wire 3 feeding the cathode reaches the latter through the upper opposite end of the tube 1 and extends axially throughout the height of the tube within an insulating sheath 7. Said sheath made of glass for instance engages slightly the cold mercury cathode 2. This sheath produces through its very presence a cathode spot, moving in practice along an annular line the axis of which is defined by the wire 3.

The experiments made have shown that the pulses obtained are remarkably stable and all the more so when the area of the free level of the cold liquid metal cathode is larger and, furthermore, that the symmetry around its axis of revolution of the geometrical surfaces defined by the structure illustrated in FIG. 4 enhances considerably the stability of the pulses as to frequency.

FIG. 5 discloses the association of two tubes each provided with an outer sleeve 6 while the cathode-feeding wires 3 entering the sheath are connected with the secondary of the transformer 8. The primary of the latter is fed with 220 volts or thereabouts while the secondary is designed so as to supply 50,000 volts.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of FIG. 5 intended for the treatment of a liquid carried inside a vat 9 and inside which both tubes are immersed throughout the height of their sealed capacity. In this case the sleeves 6 enclosing the tubes are cut out and replaced by a conductive plate 6 immersed vertically in the vat 9 between the tubes inside the liquid and connected with the medial tapping of the secondary of the transformer 8.

The liquid undergoing treatment in the apparatus according to FIG. 6 may be ordinary city water and it has been found that, when thus treated according to the invention, said water recovers optically and electrically the properties of pure spring water.

Obviously the invention is by no means limited to the case of a tube filled with mercury vapor and it may be executedwith a cathode of another liquid metal such as gallium which melts at the temperature of operation, a rare gas under reduced pressure being introduced into the tube in the makmg.v 1

It is also possible to provide cooling means for the cathode, such as a conventional water circulating system.

The arrangement according to the invention is particularly applicable when it is desired to further chemical reactions requiring the incorporation of external energy. Such reactions are in fact furthered by voltage pulses such as those obtained by the above-disclosed means. Such pulses act without any rise in temperature, which is of considerable advantage when it is desired to produce non-stable compounds and also when it is desired to reduce the amountof energy required for the execution of a reaction.

In order to avoid. parasitic phenomena, it is preferable to make use of tubes in which a vacuum as high as possible has been obtained and which has been properly degassed before the mercury has been introduced into it.

What we claim is:

1. An electronic generator of voltage pulses of a predetermined high value and high frequency, comprising a sealed, elongated, evacuated tube freed of air, a cathode in saidtube comprised of a metal that is liquid at a low operating temperature, means for supplying a very high voltage to said cathode and forming a cathode spot, said cathode being the sole electrode inside said tube, and a conductive cylindrical sleeve surrounding the outside of said tube in substantially coaxial relationship with said tube.

2. An electronic generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cathode is mercury.

3. An electronic generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cathode is gallium, and a rare gas is provided in the tube under a reduced pressure.

4. An electronic generator as claimed in claim I wherein the cathode is at one end of the tube, and the voltage-supplying means include an insulated tubular sheath extending axially inside the tube between the end opposed to the cathode and a point within the location of the cathode and an energy-feeding wire extending inside said sheath to connect the cathode with a point outside the tube.

5. A dual electronic generator of voltage pulses of a predetermined high value and high frequency, comprising two sealed, elongated, evacuated tubes freed of air, each tube containing a cathode comprised of a metal that is liquid at a low operating temperature, the cathode being the sole electrode in each tube, an auxiliary conductive component adjacent the outer surface of each tube, a transformer having primary and secondary coils, the medial point of the secondary coil being grounded, means for supplying high voltage to each cathode from a different terminal of said secondary coil and for forming a cathode spot in each cathode, said transformer being adapted to supply a very high voltage to said cathodes through said terminals of said secondary coil.

6. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5 comprising a liquid-filled vat inside whichthe tubes are immersed with their cathodes at their lower ends and the auxiliary conductive component is a single vertical metal plate immersed in the vat between the tubes in substantial perpendicularity with reference to the plane defined by the vertical axes of the tubes.

7. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein an auxiliary conductive component is adjacent to and is associated with each tube.

8. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 7 wherein the auxiliary conductive components are constituted by interconnected sleeves surrounding coaxially the corresponding tubes.

9. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cathode is mercury.

10. A dual electronic generator as claimed in -claim 5, wherein said cathode is gallium, and a rare gas is provided in each tube under a reduced pressure.

11. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, 

1. An electronic generator of voltage pulses of a predetermined high value and high frequency, comprising a sealed, elongated, evacuated tube freed of air, a cathode in said tube comprised of a metal that is liquid at a low operating temperature, means for supplying a very high voltage to said cathode and forming a cathode spot, said cathode being the sole electrode inside said tube, and a conductive cylindrical sleeve surrounding the outside of said tube in substantially coaxial relationship with said tube.
 2. An electronic generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cathode is mercury.
 3. An electronic generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cathode is gallium, and a rare gas is provided in the tube under a reduced pressure.
 4. An electronic generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cathode is at one end of the tube, and the voltage-supplying means include an insulated tubular sheath extending axially inside the tube between the end opposed to the cathode and a point within the location of the cathode and an energy-feeding wire extending inside said sheath to connect the cathode with a point outside the tube.
 5. A dual electronic generator of voltage pulses of a predetermined high value and high frequency, comprising two sealed, elongated, evacuated tubes freed of air, each tube containing a cathode comprised of a metal that is liquid at a low operating temperature, the cathode being the sole electrode in each tube, an auxiliary conductive component adjacent the outer surface of each tube, a transformer having primary and secondary coils, the medial point of the secondary coil being grounded, means for supplying high voltage to each cathode from a different terminal of said secondary coil and for forming a cathode spot in each cathode, said transformer being adapted to supply a very high voltage to said cathodes through said terminals of said secondary coil.
 6. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5 comprising a liquid-filled vat inside which the tubes are immersed with their cathodes at their lower ends and the auxiliary conductive component is a single vertical metal plate immersed in the vat between the tubes in substantial perpendicularity with reference to the plane defined by the vertical axes of the tubes.
 7. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein an auxiliary conductive component is adjacent to and is associated with each tube.
 8. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 7 wherein the auxiliary conductive components are constituted by interconnected sleeves surrounding coaxially the corresponding tubes.
 9. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cathode is mercury.
 10. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cathode is gallium, and a rare gas is provided in each tube under a reduced pressure.
 11. A dual electronic generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cathode in each tube is at one end thereof, and said voltage-supplying means include an insulated tubular sheath extending axially inside each tube between the end opposed to said cathode and a point within the location of the cathode, and an energy-feeding wire extending inside each sheath to connect each cathode to a different terminal of said secondary coil. 